Marine bailer

ABSTRACT

A remote control boat drainage valve assembly consisting of a thimble extending through an opening at the stern of a boat with a bracket secured in the stern having a pivoted arm carrying a plug engageable in the thimble. An elongated operating stem extends threadedly through a yoke carried by the bracket and is rotatably connected to the arm for moving the plug relative to the thimble by rotating the stem.

0 United States Patent 1151 3,703,150 Mueller [4 1 Nov. 21, 1972 [541 MARINE BAILER 3,155,067 11/1964 Gillette ..114/185 [72] Inventor; Axel Mueller, St Petersburg Beach, 3,400,683 9/1968 De Forest ..114/185 Fla- 3,565,031 2/1971 De Persla ..1 14/197 [73] Assignee: Moeller Mfg. Co., Inc., Greenville, Primary Examiner Andl-ew Farrel] Mlss- Attorney-Berman, Davidson and Berman [22] Filed: June 26, 1970 ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 50220 A remote control boat drainage valve assembly consisting of a thimble extending through an opening at [52] US. Cl ..114/197, 29/512 the stern of a boat with a bracket secured in the stem [51] Int. Cl. ..B63b 13/00 h ing a pivoted arm carrying a plug engageable in the [58] Field of Search ..1 14/197, 185; 29/512 thi b1 An l gat d operating stem extends threadedly through a yoke carried by the bracket and [56] References Clted is rotatably connected to the arm for moving the plug UNITED STATES PATENTS relative to the thimble by rotating the stem.

1,415,542 5/1922 Fuegel et a1. ..29/512 6 Claims 8 Drawing Figures 2,150,361 3/1939 Chobert ..29/512 4 4 I I I I j'IIIIIIIIIIIII/III.

PATENTEU I 3,703,150

SHEET 1 UP 2 ATTORXEMS'.

PATENTEDNUVZI I972 I 3.703.150 SHEET 2 UF 2 INVENTOR. AXEL M054 4 5e,

MARINE BAILER This invention relates to boat drainage valve assemblies, and more particularly to remotely controlled plugs or stopper assemblies for drainage openings in the stern of a boat.

A main object of the invention is to provide a remote-controlled stopper assembly for the drainage opening in the stern portion of a boat, the assembly being simple in construction and involving inexpensive parts, and being easy to operate.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bailer assembly for a boat or other item to be bailed, said assembly being easy to install, relatively compact in size, and reliable in operation within a wide angular range of installation positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved remote-controlled bailer valve assembly which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is rugged in construction, and which has a self-contained plug and drain tube to insure positive alignment and seating of the plug in the drain tube opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved remote-controlled bailer assembly which is easily accessible for operation, which resists corrosion of its parts, which is adjustable for installation in a wide range of different designs of boat shapes including deep V hulls, which can be arranged for installation in various sizes and depths of motor wells, boat wells, or the like, and which is free from many hazards associated with previously employed bailer assemblies.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical crosssectional view taken through the stern portion of a boat equipped with an improved remote-controlled drainage valve assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the stem support fitting employed in the assembly of FIGS. 1 to 5, taken substantially on the line 66 of FIG. I, with the stem member omitted.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 77 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view generally similar to FIG. 4 but showing the drainage valve assembly in open position.

It is a common practice to provide a drain aperture or opening at the stern of a power boat to allow bilge water to be drained from the boat during its operation. This drain aperture is usually located below the water line, and therefore when the boat is at rest it is necessary that the aperture be sealed by some type of bailer valve or plug. When the boat is in operation and is moving through the water, the aperture can be unsealed by removing or retracting the plug to thereby expose the aperture and to allow the bilge water accumulated in the bottom of the boat to drain out, the draining action being aided by the forward motion of the boat and by the attitude of the boat in the water during its movement.

Since the working parts of the plug or valve operating mechanism are frequently under water, and since when the boat is at rest the aperture or thimble defining the aperture is surrounded by or submerged in water, it is necessary to provide an effective seal for the valve or plug and also it is highly desirable to employ a remote controlled means for operating the valve or plug, since the valve or plug element itself is usually located in a relatively inaccessible location which is difficult to reach and which is in a relatively cramped space. It is therefore a primary purpose of the present invention to meet the various requirements outlined above in a simple and efficient manner and to provide a remote controlled means which is positive in operation and which can be easily installed in many existing designs of power boats without requiring any appreciable physical modifications in the structures of the boats.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates a typical power boat provided with the usual stern or transom I2 and having a bottom or floor 13. In the typical boat illustrated, a compartment 14 is provided adjacent the upper portion of the transom 12 to receive a portion of a motor, such as a conventional outboard motor, so as to support same in operative position. Thus, the compartment 14 is defined by various structural elements including a downwardly and rearwardly inclined bottom wall 15, a transverse generally rectangular hollow rib element 16 and a depending transversely extending vertical rear wall 17.

It is noted that the typical structure shown in FIG. I merely represents one type of design situation which may be encountered in connection with the use of a drain opening for the purpose above described. It will.

be noted further that the drain opening, shown at 18 is located at the lower portion of the transom 12 near the floor I33, namely, substantially in a corner which is relatively difficult to reach and which is more or less blocked by the presence of the depending transverse wall element 17 and by another closely adjacent transversely extending structure 19 rising from bottom wall 13. The structure shown in the drawings is merely representative of a wide range of boat designs wherein the necessity for providing remote control of the drain plug is highly apparent.

The drain opening 18 is provided with a thimble 2d of suitable corrosion-resistant material, such as brass or copper, and the outer end of the thimble is flanged, as shown at 21, to overlie an annular, offset metal washer 22 which clamps a resilient deformable sealing ring 23 around the thimble 2t and against the outside surface of transom I2, whereby to provide a seal between the thimble and the transom. The inner end of thimble 2% is provided with a similar flange 24 which overlies an annular offset flange 25 formed around an opening in the platelike intermediate portion 26 of a generally U- shaped bracket 27. The thimble 2@ extends through said aperture with its inner flange 24 overlying the offset flange portion 25, with a resilient deformable sealing ring 28 surrounding the thimble and confined between flange and the margin of opening 18, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4, providing a water-tight seal around the inner end portion of the thimble 20, similar to that provided around the outer end portion by the sealing ring 23.

The bracket 27 is provided with the parallel side walls 29 and 30 spaced on opposite sides of the opening, and the bracket 27 is secured in a suitably adjusted rotated position around the thimble 20 by fastening screws 31 extending through the upper portion of the web member 26 and threadedly engaged in the transom 12.

It will be readily understood that the bracket member 27 may be secured in any desired position of adjustment, for example, in the dotted view position thereof shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the desired location of the operating handle for the movable drainage plug assembly, as will be presently described.

Designated at 32 is a support member of generally U- shaped cross-section, which is pivotally connected between sidewalls 29 and 30 of bracket member 27 by a transverse pivot pin 33 extending through the upper portions of said sidewalls and the flanges 34,34 of support member 32. A sealing plug member 35 of rubber or other similar resiliently deformable sealing material is secured to the lower end portion of the web of member 32, for example, by an axial rivet 36, as shown in FIG. 4. The plug member 35 has a generally conical rearwardly facing sealing surface 37 arranged to be substantially coaxial with the thimble 20, when the member 32 is swung towards its rearward position, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the plug element 35 is adapted to be sealingly engaged in the inner end of thimble 20 to close off the drainage opening.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 4, the plug member 35 is received at its larger end in a rigid metal cup member 38 held against the web portion of member 32, and the smaller end of the plug is engaged by a washer 39 secured on the right end portion of the rivet 36, as viewed in FIG. 4.

The pivot pin 33 has one enlarged end portion 40 outwardly adjacent the wall 29 of bracket member 27 and a cotter pin 41 is engaged through the opposite end portion of pin 33 to retain the pin in place, as shown in FIG. 3.

A pair of link arms 42,42 are pivotally connected to the flanges 29 and 30 inwardly adjacent thereto by transversely aligned shouldered rivets 43,43. Rotatably secured between the upper end portions of the link arms 42,42 is a cylindrical transverse bar element 44 having an intermediate tapped bore 45 threadedly receiving an externally threaded stem rod 46. Rod 46 has a reduced lower end portion 47 which extends through a transverse central bore 48 formed in the cylindrical cross bar 49 which is rotatably secured between the flanges 34,34 of support member 32. A washer 59 is engaged on the lower end portion of rod element 47, being retained beneath cross bar 49 by the cotter pin 51. An abutment washer 52 is engaged on the reduced rod element 47 above the cross bar 59 subjacent the shoulder defined at the upper end of the reduced rod portion 47. A stop sleeve 53 is slidably engaged on the threaded stem rod 46 between washer 52 and transverse bar member 44, thereby serving as a means for limiting the upward rotation of the valve support member 32, since further upward rotation of member 32 is prevented when the top end of sleeve 53 comes into abutment with the transverse'bar element 44, as shown in FIG. 8.

As will be readily apparent, the sleeve 53 may he made of any desired length, whereby to correspondingly define the limiting position of member 32 when rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, and thereby define the limit of opening movement of the sealing plug element 35.

The stem rod 46 has a reduced top end portion 54 which is telescopically received in an elongated handle tube 55 and which is rigidly secured thereto by a transverse fastening pin 56, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4, whereby stern rod 46 may be rotated by rotating the handle tube 55.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tube 55 extends upwardly and forwardly and is slidably and sealingly supported in a bushing assembly 57 provided around an aperture 58 in the structural member 17 through which the tube 55 extends. In the typical installation illustrated in full line view in the drawings, the aperture 58 is provided in the depending transverse element 117 and the sealing bushing assembly 57 is externally secured around the aperture 58. The assembly comprises a rigid flat ring 59 with a centrally apertured resiliently deformable sealing washer 60 interposed between the flat washer 59 and the member 17, the washer 57 being secured to member 17 concentrically with aperture 58 by fastening screws 61,61. As shown in FIG. 8, the tube 55 extends sealingly and slidably through the central aperture of the rubber washer 60, said washer conformably accommodating the tube 55. Thus, the central aperture of the rigid Washer 59 is substantially larger in diameter than the supporting central aperture of the resilient deformable sealing washer 60 so that the central portion of the sealing washer may deform in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 to sealingly engage around tube 55 even when the tube is at a relatively steep angle to the horizontal. The aperture 58 in the transverse member 17 may be suitably inclined to provide proper clearance for tube 55 and to allow the tube to angle somewhat during its operation.

The transverse handle pin 63 is secured in the top end portion of tube 55, and the top end of the tube is suitably sealed, as shown at 64. Handle pin 63 serves as a convenient grip for manually rotating tube 55. In operation, rotation of the tube 55 rotates the stem rod 46, the transverse bar element 44 acting as a nut, whereby rotation of tube 55 advances or retracts the stem rod 46. Rotation of the tube 55 in one direction therefore causes the support member 32 to swing in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, namely, moves the sealing plug element 35 toward the thimble 20, and ultimately causes the sealing element 35 to sealingly engage in the left end of the thimble, as shown in FIG. 4. This represents the closed position, and would be the position thereof when the boat was stationary or moving at a relatively slow speed, whereby to prevent water from entering the boat. When the boat is travelling at a substantial speed, the tube 55 is rotated in the opposite direction by means of the handle rod 63, whereby to retract the rod element 46 relative to the threaded transverse member 44, which swings the support member 32 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4, for example, to the position of FIG. 8. This opens the drain opening and allows the bilge water to be discharged through the thimble 20 by the suction induced by the forward movement of the boat through the water.

As will be apparent, the operating handle portion of the apparatus, namely, the top end of tube 55 with its handle rod 63, is conveniently accessible and can be operated easily as required. This insures a very safe installation, since to operate the apparatus the operator does not have to reach into the engine compartment and thereby does not run the risk of coming into contact with a hot motor or any other dangerous component of the boat. This is an important factor in avoiding accidents.

It is also readily apparent that the screws 31 are merely optional, since in the installation of the apparatus, the portion 26 of bracket member 27 is engaged by the flange 24 of the thimble 18 with sufficient tightness to securely hold the bracket 27 in its proper position. It is also readily apparent that the bracket 27 can be installed in suitably rotated position in accordance with the desired location of rod 55 and operating handle element 63. Thus, the bracket member 27 is pivotable, as required by the particular installation.

It is further apparent that because of the self-contained construction, namely, due to the fact that the member 32 is pivoted at the transverse pivot pin 33 to the bracket 27, the proper alignment of plug member 35 with the inner opening of thimble 20 is always assured. Due to the permanent swinging action of member 32 around the transverse pivot pin 33, centered seating of the plug element 35 in the inner end of thimble 20 is permanently assured. Thus, no special care is required in the installation of the apparatus to provide accurate seating of the plug element 35 in the inner end of thimble 20 because this is built into the design of the apparatus.

The method of installing the apparatus is quite simple, and merely consists of first forming the opening 18 at the desired location in the boat transom 12. The thimble 20, having the flange 24 on its inner end but having its free or outer end straight, is inserted through the opening in the platelike intermediate portion 26 of the bracket or frame 27 with the sealing ring 28 surrounding the thimble, and the bracket 27 is placed against the inside of the transom 1 .2 with the thimble engaged through the opening 18. The sealing ring 23 and the offset metal washer 22 are then engaged around the outer end portion of the thimble, after which the outer end of the thimble is deformed outwardly to form the securing flange 21.. The deformation of the outer end of the thimble is performed in such a manner as to provide a tight clamping action of the thimble on the inner flange portion 25. If desired, the thimble may have its outer end flanged and its inner end straight initially. In such case, the inner end is inserted from the outside through the opening 18 and opening in the plate-like portion 26, following which the inner end is deformed to form the flange 24.

It will be understood that the tube 55 may be secured onto the reduced top end portion 54 of stem member 46 after the apparatus has been mounted in the manner previously described. Alternatively, the tube 55 with the crossbar 63 removed may be inserted through a suitably positioned bushing assembly 57 prior to the securement of the platelike portion 26 to transom 12 in the manner above described.

It will be further understood that numerous variations may occur to those skilled in the art with regard to the method of installation of the apparatus, and therefore different procedures may be adopted in accordance with the particular design of the boat in which the apparatus is installed.

As above mentioned, the device may be installed in any convenient manner; for example, with the bracket 27 rotated in the manner illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2, and with the handle tube 55 extending through any other convenient portion of the boat structure within an arc of about such as through the wall 15 instead of the wall 17. This may be desirable due to the particular construction of the boat or the usage of the invention, and also to avoid contact with a hot motor or the like.

The various metal parts are preferably .of suitable corrosion-resistant metal, such as brass, bronze or the like.

While a specific embodiment of an improved remote-controlled boat drainage valve assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a-pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative with said plug elements and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming an opening in the lower portion of the transom of a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat until the free end is located outside of the boat and the bracket is positioned adjacent the inside surface of the transom, and deforming the free end of the thimble outwardly around the margin of the opening to attach the bracket and thimble to said transom.

2. A method of claim 1, and wherein the outer end of the thimble is deformed by forming a peripheral outwardly projecting flange thereon.

3. The method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative with said plug element and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming a drain opening in a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat, rotating said bracket about the axis of said opening to a selected position, and attaching said bracket to said boat in said selected position by deforming the free end of said thimble radially outwardly to overlie the edge of said opening.

4. The method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative with said plug element and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming a drain opening in a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat, rotating said bracket about the axis of said opening to a selected position, and attaching said bracket to said boat in said selected position by forming an outwardly projecting flange on the free end of the thimble to overlie the edge of said opening.

5. A method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a plug element pivoted into and out of a thimble having a free end extending from said bracket, and a handle opera- 

1. A method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative with said plug elements and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming an opening in the lower portion of the transom of a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat until the free end is located outside of the boat and the bracket is positioned adjacent the inside surface of the transom, and deforming the free end of the thimble outwardly around the margin of the opening to attach the bracket and thimble to said transom.
 1. A method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative with said plug elements and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming an opening in the lower portion of the transom of a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat until the free end is located outside of the boat and the bracket is positioned adjacent the inside surface of the transom, and deforming the free end of the thimble outwardly around the margin of the opening to attach the bracket and thimble to said transom.
 2. A method of claim 1, and wherein the outer end of the thimble is deformed by forming a peripheral outwardly projecting flange thereon.
 3. The method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative With said plug element and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming a drain opening in a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat, rotating said bracket about the axis of said opening to a selected position, and attaching said bracket to said boat in said selected position by deforming the free end of said thimble radially outwardly to overlie the edge of said opening.
 4. The method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a pivoted plug element and a thimble cooperative with said plug element and having a free end extending from said bracket, comprising the steps of forming a drain opening in a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat, rotating said bracket about the axis of said opening to a selected position, and attaching said bracket to said boat in said selected position by forming an outwardly projecting flange on the free end of the thimble to overlie the edge of said opening.
 5. A method of installing a boat bailer of the type including a main supporting bracket carrying a plug element pivoted into and out of a thimble having a free end extending from said bracket, and a handle operatively connected to said plug, comprising the steps of forming a drain opening in a boat, inserting the thimble through said opening from the inside of the boat, rotating said bracket about the axis of said thimble to a selected position of said handle, and attaching said bracket to said boat in said selected position of said handle. 